Trio of Hornets receive All-State honors

Three members of the Mendon football team have been named to the Class D All State Football teams.

Making the All State team are Nick Eberstein and Logan Slaughter.

Eberstein a (5-10, 180) senior was All State specialist. In their game against Centreville he scored a touchdown by running, throwing, returning a punt and returning a kick. He also had an interception returned for a score.

This season he rushed for over 700 yards and passed for over 900 yards. He scored close to 20 times.

"Nick did just about everything for us," coach John Schwartz said. "He led us on both sides of the ball. What doesn't show up on paper was his leadership. That was an asset to us."

Last season Eberstein was All State as a defensive back.

Slaughter (6-5, 235) is a sophomore, named an All State lineman.

Slaughter started all 14 games for the Hornets last year along with every game this year.

"He got bigger and stronger," Schwartz said. "He constantly strives to do things perfectly. There is a lot more to him than just size. He works hard all of the time."

Slaughter played on the line on both sides of the ball.

"He does a nice job on defense, he plays well all of the time, he's someone you can count on," Schwartz said.

Wiswell was fourth on the team in tackles and led the Hornets in quarterback sacks.

"Kyle really improved over the summer and he improved from week to week," Schwartz said. "He has good hands, but he got faster and stronger."

On offense Wiswell played tight end.

"We ask a lot of our tight end, we ask them to block first and catch the ball second," Schwartz said. "We ran the ball behind him, he did a lot of the dirty work. He's a kid who loves to hit, he loves the game."

Division 7-8

All State Team

Malik McDowell of Detroit Loyola could be the state's top recruit next season. At 6-foot-7 and 290 pounds, McDowell is a two-way lineman who has been named The Associated Press Player of the Year in Division 7-8.

McDowell, a junior, and his teammate, senior running back Keymonne Gabriel, are two of the 28 players selected to this season's AP Division 7-8 All State team being announced Tuesday.

During the regular season McDowell had 25 unassisted tackles, 15 assists and 6 1/2 tackles for loss.

Loyola (13-0) will play in its first state championship game on Saturday and will face Ishpeming for the Division 7 title at Ford Field.

"Malik is concentrating on school and being a kid," Loyola coach John Callahan said. "I give credit to his mother and father. To them, it's not about football, it's about the books. Malik will understand that if he doesn't know it now."

Apparently he does understand. McDowell sports a 3.3 grade-point average.

Gabriel rushed for over 1,500 yards during the regular season and rushed for 325 yards in one playoff game.

Joining Gabriel in the backfield are Wyatt Derrer of Mancelona, Nick Hire of Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart and Tyler Koenigsknecht of Fowler. Derrer averaged nine yards per rush. Hire also showed his impact defensively with 76 tackles and Koenigsknecht rushed for more than 1,300 yards.

At quarterback, Nate Gaggin of Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett and Mitch Myler of Sacred Heart were named to the team. A four-year starter, Gaggin threw for 2,087 yards and 22 touchdowns this season. Myler threw for 25 touchdowns and had just four interceptions in 193 attempts.

At receiver, first-teams include Amari Coleman of New Lothrop, Steve Schankin of Petersburg-Summerfield and Jake Grice of Dansville. Coleman averaged 25 yards per reception and also scored 13 rushing touchdowns. Schankin had 54 receptions and of the 44 Grice had, nine went for touchdowns.

Joe Ostman of St. Ignace LaSalle committed to Central Michigan and he tops this list of five who were selected at linebacker. Christian Benevidez of Vestaburg averaged 15 tackles a game, Nate Gerhold of Decatur had 21 tackles for loss, Brad Harran of Adrian Lenawee Christian had 152 tackles and Josh Reau led Britton Deerfield to a Division 7 region final and amassed 127 tackles.

At defensive back Nathan Holt of Lake City had eight interceptions, Eric Cooper of Flint Beecher doubled as a receiver, Cody Peyok of Reese also started at quarterback and Kirk Gibson of Climax-Scotts had 119 tackles.

Nick Eberstein of Mendon and Nolan Nye of Frankfort were named as specialists.

Tommy Sanchez of Detroit Westside Christian is the all-state punter and Spencer Howell of Our Lady of the Lakes is the place kicker.

Joe Reddinger of Iron Mountain North Dickinson and Bob Saylor of Reese were selected as co-coaches of the year.